According to the indictment, Khalidin Khalilov was a member of the Jaish al-Muhajireen wal Ansar armed group in Syria between August 2013 and June 2015

ROSTOV-ON-DON, January 20. /TASS/. The North Caucasus district military court will on Wednesday hear the case of resident of the Republic of Kalmykia (southern European Russia) Khalidin Khalilov who fought in Syria on the side of an illegal armed group and tried to recruit new fighters, the court’s press secretary Alyona Katkalo told TASS.

According to the indictment, Khalilov was a member of the Jaish al-Muhajireen wal Ansar armed group in Syria between August 2013 and June 2015. His brother, also a member of an illegal armed group, persuaded him to go to Syria explaining that they needed to defend Muslims.

"After training sessions in shooting and physical training, Khalilov, along with other members, was provided with arms and ammunition, patrolled the area controlled by the group and was directly involved in the armed attacks on the government forces. He also performed other duties assigned to him by the leader of the armed group, which runs counter to Russia’s interests," Katkalo said.

In March 2015, the defendant tried to recruit an acquaintance of his through the WhatsApp messenger, but the latter did not respond to this offer. The defendant fully admitted his guilt, actively helped to disclose and investigate the crimes committed by him and filed a motion on hearing the case by the court according to a special procedure.

"Since the case will be heard using a special procedure (without studying evidence and interrogating witnesses and victims - TASS), there is a high probability of the verdict to be announced as early as today," Katkalo said.